Update: The Bulls are reportedly unwilling to move on from Jimmy Butler unless the Wolves include Andrew Wiggins in the package to get him:
Good work from Marc. Word is Bulls won't do if AW not involved. If wanted to move JB, bet Bos. would give up No. 3. https://t.co/YBBxwCi8Es
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) June 14, 2016
Original post follows:
Jimmmy Butler could be the latest member of the Chicago Bulls to get attention from new Minnesota Timberwolves team president and head coach Tom Thibodeau. Recently, Tibs was linked to former Bulls big man Joakim Noah seeing as his former MVP candidate big man will be hitting the free agency market this summer.
Now it appears the Butler, a player who came into his own under the leadership of Thibodeau, is the latest player to draw attention from his former coach. With the Timberwolves having the fifth overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and a litany of young prospects that make NBA GM’s salivate.
With the 2016 NBA Draft quickly approaching and Tibs officially under control of the team, the Coach is looking to make moves and use the draft pick the team seemingly has no use for.
Following from Marc Stein and Chad Ford of ESPN.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are prepared to part with the No. 5 overall pick in this month’s draft, as the centerpiece of a trade package, if they can use it to construct a deal for Chicago Bulls star swingman Jimmy Butler, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN.com that the Wolves, in these early days of the Tom Thibodeau Era, have made it known to the Bulls that they are strongly interested in dealing for Butler should Chicago elect to make him available.
The Bulls are not believed to be actively looking to move their All-Star swingman ?but have been listening to pitches for Butler, sources said. Butler initially rose to prominence as a two-way force playing for Thibodeau, the Wolves’ new coach and president.
Sources say that the Bulls naturally would demand a significant amount in return to part with Butler, which likely translates to at least one front-line player in addition to a top lottery pick this month.
The Boston Celtics, who hold the No 3 overall pick, are also known to have trade interest in Butler, while sources say that the Bulls are highly intrigued by Providence guard Kris Dunn, who is projected to be selected in the 3-to-5 range in the June 23 draft.
Jimmy Butler has been in trade rumors before as recently as the end of the season when Bulls GM Gar Forman did not give a hard commitment on the future of Butler or any player. You can’t blame the GM for doing that but you can look into the idea of him not wanting to commit to anything. Butler just signed an extension with the team last summer, giving him a max deal and just one season later he could be gone? It’s an interesting idea to consider going forward and Butler can’t be happy about all the trade rumors over the last season.
With the increasing number in NBA salary this summer, it wouldn’t be a hard trade to make financially. But will the Bulls pull the trigger if the Wolves offer Shabazz Muhammad, the also often trade rumored and disgruntled Ricky Rubio and the #5 pick? Possibly, but you could imagine the Bulls will want more bang for their buck when involved an NBA All-Star in a potential trade.
